Twas a Handmade XMas… (lots of pics)

Even the tree was handmade! (Kind of.)

The tree was actually once 8 feet tall and came with lights attached to it, but had been dismantled for a few uses. One was for our mini XMas tree, which my boyfriend made for me because our cats are too crazy for a normal tree. So, he grabbed a basket bucket out of the garage, stuck in some floral foam, & made a mini tree for us…

20171204_225248…after he made a gift for my teenage cousin. I was having a lot of trouble coming up with an idea for her; I know she likes peace signs, so he suggested he make a copy of the giant peace sign wreath he has hanging way up out front of the barn. So, he stripped all the lights off of several branches & wove the branches together to make a decoration I hope she enjoys for years to come. Maybe even throughout the year! Watching him make it was quite incredible; this man truly has the patience of a saint!

20171226_191138And he really loves to create. He browses the internet for all kinds of fun things to try. At work, he cut a few slices of wood to make a wall hanging, & blackboard notepad.

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He got an old lightbulb from work, wrapped some copper wire around it, & made me a steampunk like earring display!

 

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He made steampunk like stockings for his daughter & son in law. The pants used were from the local Salvation Army, we used bells from the Dollar Tree, & embellished one with a clock button & some chain, and the other with a handmade zipper butterfly & the decor from the bells.

 

 

I made some candles, which…I’m learning, lol. I think the wicks I have burn too quick for my soy wax. I also crocheted a really cute Batman plushie, but I don’t have a pic of it right now. I do, however, have lots of pictures of all the bracelets I made for my cousins…

These were made for my young cousins, a sister & brother (thus the similar styles, so they don’t argue haha)

Another sister & brother combo, both made with leather, for somewhat older kids. I really like how these came out!

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And last but not least, my first men’s bracelet, made with leather & moonstone. I also really like how this one turned out.

 

 

Handmade items take thought, energy, and time.

And t20171226_191309here were more that went around, including this cute fake tealight holder. (When the lights are off, it casts forest-like shadows on the walls!) I’d always wanted to make gifts, because I think it’s the right way to celebrate the holiday. Plus, I’m poor & trying to start a craft shop 😉 I’m really happy with everything, & I hope you enjoyed all these random ideas. Stay tuned, I’ll hopefully be opening up shop soon…!

“Zen” gift set

I’d made my ex a mala bracelet a while back, which he promptly broke. So, I promised to make him a new one. Since I was also considering starting to try to make jewelry to sell one day, I decided to make an entire gift set to go along with the mala.

It took me a little while, but…

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The mala itself is made out of beads he picked, including a stone skull, & mood beads. I added a seashell charm because he likes the water, & made it out of macrame hemp so that it would be more durable. While it could easily be worn as a bracelet, it’s meant to be more of a pocket charm. I included a painted rock from the creek in the mountains, & an ATC that lists types of meditation.

I doubt he’s been meditating…

Especially lately, with working full time, even though that’s when he should probably be doing it most. But he liked the gift. I was pretty pleased with it too!

Halloween Art Jar & ATC

I always liked lots of little things displayed together in…bigger things. Dioramas, shadowboxes, jars…they’re neat! I bought myself & my cousin each a jar from a personal art sale down in the mountains of NY over the summer, & I decided to experiment with a jar of my own. Since Halloween was approaching at the time, I made a little Halloween art jar!

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Easy Assembly

I used lots of Dollar Tree items, including : a jar, black gravel, orange confetti, Halloween stickers, Mod Podge, & a fake tealight candle. I also painted a rock from the creek on my aunt’s vacation property & turned him into a ghost. I didn’t glue down the gravel because I didn’t want to risk being able to see the glue, & I just set everything together on top of it. That way, it can always be fixed or changed. I Mod Podged some fabric onto the lid, screwed it on tight, & wrapped some ribbon around it. It was a lot of fun to make!

A Little Something Extra…

I also tied a friendship bracelet around the lid to attach the gift tag I’d made (not really shown). My aunt appreciated the amount of work that went into the whole thing. While I was working on the tag, I decided to make an ATC (Artist Trading Card) to match :

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